KDOT awarded $62.6 million for 18th Street bridge replacement project in KCK

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Kansas Department of Transportation a $62.6 million Bridge Investment Program grant for the 18th Street bridge in Kansas City, Kansas.

The 18th Street bridge over the Kansas River in Wyandotte County is part of U.S. 69 and a key link for Kansas City neighborhoods.

It was built in 1959 and has had many repairs over the years, but now it’s beyond restoration and needs to be replaced, according to the Kansas Governor’s Office.

Upon inspection in 2017, the bridge was immediately closed for corrosion and cracking repairs. During this closure, from April to December 2018, comprehensive repairs were made, extending the bridge’s life. However, a long-term plan was needed as the bridge was nearing the end of its service life, and maintenance was no longer cost-effective.

In 2019, KDOT completed a study to evaluate bridge options and identify a preferred alternative.

The bridge currently has four 12-foot lanes with narrow shoulders measuring two to three feet wide; the new bridge will use modern design standards with 10-foot exterior shoulders and 6-foot interior shoulders.

It will also include designs for the fencing over the railroad and the exterior concrete pattern, which will be consistent with the pattern used on the Lewis and Clark Viaduct, which connects Kansas City, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri.

KDOT will implement additional improvements in the corridor to utilize the full closure of 18th Street while the bridge is being replaced. These improvements will include roadway improvements along 18th Street just north and south of the Kansas River and bridge rehabilitation on the 18th Street bridges over Ruby Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Kansas City Terminal Railway, and Osage Avenue.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025, and the 18th Street bridge will be closed to traffic throughout the duration of construction. This full closure is estimated to last approximately 24 months.

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